Nothing beats the good-tasting broth and soft and chewy noodles of ramen. Its hearty toppings, be it pork or beef, allow food lovers to taste and experience the uniqueness of Japanese cuisine. The heat of its broth comforts us after a long and busy day, giving us what we truly desire–a warm bowl of flavorful soup and noodles.

However, a bowl of ramen in the Philippines is usually expensive because of its imported ingredients. There are budget-friendly restaurants in Makati and in other cities that can satisfy your taste buds without spending much. Here are 11 affordable ramen dishes in Metro Manila that will definitely reward you the oishī palate.

1. Ippudo’s Shiromaru Motoaji (PHP 385)

Instagram photo by @johnsonmamayson

Ippudo’s tonkotsu ramen may lack color and presentation, but wait until you taste its broth and noodles. It’s only then you can say that their Shiromaru Motoaji cannot be judged by its look. Ippudo cooks their classic Hakata-style ramen broth for 15 hours to bring out its rich flavor. It’s topped with chasu, a Japanese pork belly that’s boiled and stewed for over two hours. The noodles are ultra-thin but perfectly firm and are made daily.

2. Tongara Ramen (PHP 390)

Tongara Ramen Facebook page

The signature Tongara Ramen has a sweet taste because of a special broth called tongara that’s made of chicken and pork bones simmered for hours. It’s topped with a soft-boiled egg and bamboo shoots. It’s a feast in your mouth once you taste the tongara, consume the fresh wheat noodles, and take a bite of the succulent pork belly.

Tongara Ramen location: Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Ave., Marikina

3. Ramen Nagi’s Original King Butao (PHP 390)

Whattoeatph.com website

Ramen Nagi’s Original King Butao is best consumed when you’re hungry. Served in a large bowl, its flavorful and creamy broth is cooked for more than 20 hours. Enjoy it with its handcrafted noodles and char siu, a kind of pork barbeque. Crowds love Ramen Nagi as you can customize your order to your desired palate, garlic (from none to extra heavy), pork (shoulder or belly), and spiciness level.

4. Takashi Japanese Cuisine’s Volcano Ramen (PHP 320)

Takashi Japanese Cuisine Facebook page

Fuel your taste buds with a spicy ramen challenge as this Volcano Ramen from Takashi Japanese Cuisine will determine your tolerance for spicy food. Warning: Its fiery red broth and noodles will set your tongue in fire. But, don’t worry, you can still control the spice levels by choosing from five spice preferences.

The restaurant’s authentic home-style Japanese ramen recipe is primarily made of freshly-cooked pork broth. Once served, you’ll experience a layer of oil produced by more than 20 hours of simmering. The starchy noodles add flavor to the soup.

7. Ramen Kuroda’s Kuro Ramen (PHP 180)

Ramen Kuroda Facebook page

A bowl of Kuro ramen is a thumbs up if you’re on a budget. For less than PHP 200, Kuro Ramen can match the flavor of popular ramen brands. Its noodles are tender and firm, just like what you’re looking for in a bowl of ramen. Its rich, smoky tonkotsu broth with roasted garlic prove that it’s a must-try for ramen enthusiasts.

8. Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen’s Ajitama Tonkotsu (PHP 380)

Ikkoryu.ph website

Ajitama Tonkotsu’s signature ramen bowl is everything you wished for in a bowl of ramen: full-flavored broth topped with a hard-boiled egg seasoned with Ikkoryu’s own blended soy sauce. Taste the wholeness of oishī flavors for less than PHP 500 with this dish.

9. Mendokoro Ramenba’s Shoyu Ramen (PHP 410)

Mendokoro Ramenba Facebook page

Shoyu Ramen is a soy-based tonkotsu ramen with tender pork slices. Before digging in, watch chefs prepare your food at their open-kitchen setup. When dining in, expect a long line as the restaurant can only accommodate approximately 20 customers.

10. Butamaru’s Curry Tantanmen (PHP 370)

Butamaru – Alabang Facebook page

Curry Tantanmen is made of a spicy curry broth with peanuts and sesame sauce. Butamaru broth is cooked for 16 hours, releasing a strong yet delicious flavor. The ramen has spiciness levels you can adjust according to your preference.

About us

FAQ.ph stands for Facts, Answers and Questions about the Philippines. It is an online place where you can read interesting facts, useful answers and frequently asked questions about our country, its places, events and people. Our mission is to share stories that will help Filipinos and the world gain knowledge about everything in the Philippines, including its beautiful spots, rich history, unique society, and solutions towards the nation's progress.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience and to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More